Miami Heat definitely choked against Charlotte but it wasn’t a personnel thing
The Miami Heat flat out choked away the game on Monday to the Charlotte Hornets. There is no other way to put it.
Up 10 points in the closing moments of the game, they found themselves within a three point shot of allowing a tie ball game to the Hornets. Then the guy that had been sinking them all game, Malik Monk of the Charlotte Hornets, sank another one.
Before we get to the last really puzzling part of it all, help me figure this one out. How do you let the guy that has been absolutely cooking all game long get a great look off at a basket to tie in the final moments?
How? How do you let that happen?
In any event, that wasn’t event most puzzling thing of the final thirty seconds of regulation. After the Monk shot, the Heat had one final look.
Instead of driving the lane, which he had a ton of space to do, Jimmy Butler let the clock drain all the way down and took… a three? I trust him, so I can’t be that awfully mad at that shot but as I said in the moment, I would much rather him drive the ball there.
Even if he doesn’t get fouled, which he likely will at the very worst, I like those odds better. Here’s another huge thing about it all though.
After being severely outscored in the overtime period to lose the game, the overwhelming sentiment you tend to see is that the Miami Heat “need to make a trade now”. I hear you, really, I do.
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The Miami Heat’s biggest issues aren’t personnel related at all.
I also want to break something to you all. The Miami Heat’s issues aren’t squarely rooted in personnel.
No matter who was on the floor tonight, the effort and awareness that they played with to close this game and in the overtime gets anyone beat. How do you let Monk get such a clean look on the final shot, knowing he’s done what he has all game?
Even there though, teams have had their season-best nights against the Heat shooting the ball, all season long. Tonight, it was just one guy, but that was enough to beat them.
While the Miami Heat still might need to make a trade, this game isn’t reflective of an issue that such a move would solve. No matter who’s there, they have to be more willing to put the effort in and be aware.
The Miami Heat’s three point defense didn’t just get putrid on Monday night and they know that too. That’s why, for the last time and again, you absolutely cannot allow the guy who’s been torching you all night long to get an open look there.
You just can’t. That’s why, though it still may be necessary as a whole, Monday’s defeat wasn’t indicative of a personnel issue.
It’s not about the right people not being there right now. It’s about the people that are there right now not trying hard enough.
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The Miami Heat should have won this game. They had it won but one slip in effort and/or focus can get you beat, which is what we saw Monday.